Free Disney Park Passes – Volunteer A Day, Get A Day

The Disney organization is doing it’s part to encourage volunteerism across the USA in 2010.  Disney will be  giving away 1 million one day passes to either it’s  Disney World Florida or Disneyland California parks.  Simply volunteer for one day at an approved organization and you will receive a voucher for a full day park admission. Families can volunteer together to earn up to 8 free passes (for one household) as long as adults are over 18 and children are over the age of 6.  All participants must have residence in the US, Canada or Puerto Rico.

Here’s how it all works:  Beginning on January 1, 2010, log onto the Disney “Give A Day, Get A Day” website and register everyone who will be volunteering.  During the registration process you will be able to select a volunteer opportunity organized by the HandsOn Network.  The HandsOn Network which has 70,000 affiliated agencies across the country including Habitat for Humanity, local food banks, health care centers and local educational programs.  There should be no shortage of volunteer opportunities near your home.

Once you have completed your volunteer day, you will need the volunteer organization to verify your participation.  Once Disney receives your verification, they will email you instructions to print out your free pass vouchers.  On the day you wish to visit the Disney park, you will present your voucher for a free pass.

At Walt Disney World in Florida the free one day pass will be good for admission to the Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, Epcot, or Hollywood Studios.  Black out days are March 29-April 4th and July 4th.

For Disneyland California, the free day pass is good for the Disneyland Park or Disney’s California Adventure Park.  Black out days in California include 2/13-14, 3/21, 6/21-22, 7/4, 22/21 and 12/11-12.

If you plan to purchase multi-day passes for your family, the volunteer voucher can be exchanged for a “FastPass” for quick access to the park’s most popular (and crowded) attractions.  Or your pass could be donated to a designated non-profit organization for an underpriviledged family to use.

Congratulations to the Disney organization for inspiring volunteerism in both old and young across the United States and Canada.

Elderhostel Becomes Exploritas.com

After 35 years of offering exceptional education adventures to the 55+ market, Elderhostels is taking on a new persona and becoming Exploritas.  The not-for-profit educational tour company took a close look at their name and realized they no longer were exclusive to the senior market, and they rarely stayed in hostels.  Their new name more closely represents their product offerings – fascinating journeys for lifelong learners of all ages.

Exploritas offers indepth tours throughout all 50 States in America and to over 90 countries around the world.   Programs vary in length and topic, with selections including Days of Discovery, Adventures Afloat, Road Scolar, Intergenerational, Service Tours, Independent City Discoveries, For Women Only, and much, much more.  Check them out and get on their mailing list for future catalogs.

10 (Painless) Eco-Friendly Tips For Your Next Trip

Looking for some simple ways to be more environmentally friendly on your next vacation? Here is a practical list of small adjustments each of us can make to lesson our eco footprint as we travel the globe. Each of us can minimize the impact left in our wake through a few mindful approaches to planning our trips.

1) Support destinations that are taking an active stance to protect sensitive areas, species in decline and preserve natural resources. The National Geographic Traveler is a terrific resource for research – click on their Geo-Tourism tab. You’ll find the Nat Geo Center for Sustainable Destinations on their website, where they have rated 115 places in the world for their environmental policies.

2) If going on a group tour, seek companies that are committed to responsible touring. Choose a company that has an environmental impact policy in place and who sponsors programs that give back to the communities in which they operate tours. Top companies offer travelers an opportunity to volunteer in local settings during their tour.

3) Look for boutique hotels and lodges which place less of an ecological burden on the local bio-systems rather than large sprawling resorts or giant high-rise hotels. Select properties built with a respect for their unique environment, and which incorporate the topography in their buildings. These hotels or lodges often employ local people who are experts about the area’s natural wonders, culture, indigenous groups, and geography. These unique properties often seek relationships with local food producers to provide guests with succulent meals that showcase authentic flavors of the region. Take a moment or two to see if the hotel you have chosen has an environmental impact policy stated on their website. Some hotels will donate a portion of their income for carbon offsetting, or are active partners in local volunteer programs, or may work with visitors to plant trees to assist reforestation of tourist areas. Read more

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Online Travel Auctions That Benefit Charities

Ritz-Carlton Initiates Voluntourism Program For Upscale Travelers